3 new DLCs and private ranked servers on console coming up for Battlefield 3

EA DICE today announced a total of three new DLC packs coming up for Battlefield 3. The first one, "Close Quarters", will be released in June, bringing four new infantry maps. The second pack, "Armored Kill", has a focus on vehicle combat, the third, "End Game", is still kept secret. EA also announced they are bringing up ranked servers for private rental on consoles, which players can modify "as they know it from PC".

[DoomeDx]

Close Quarters?
Seems like people are right about BF3 being a CoD Rip-off after al..

Bf3 is not supposed to have close quarter levels

[AllroundGamer]

if you watch closely the today trends, you will see how companies change their games towards the masses, just look how japanese RPG makers failed with their latest games cause they wanted to go more western style... it's all about the money, the quality or uniqueness isn't the priority anymore :( help us gaming market crash, you are our only hope :D gaming needs a reboot ;)

[LightofDarkness]

It was ALWAYS all about the money. The only thing that's changed is the market and how getting more money is achieved.

In the '90s and early '00s, developers assumed (and rightly so) that innovation and originality were important to gamers and were the major determinants of their success with a given product. These factors could establish a new franchise, enjoy great critical response and thus more purchases from gamers, who would trust the developer's output more willingly the next time around.

But GAMERS were different then. They were more "in-the-know", more tech-savvy and less willing to play the same things over and over. But they appreciated effort and being pandered to, and rewarded developers for pushing the envelope and being creative and original.

Nowadays, gamers are literally everyone. The "core" gamers that once comprised the majority of the market became a much smaller segment almost over night, as everyone and their grandmother (literally) jumped into the medium. Once the masses are on-board, it's much easier predict what they will buy. You can use mass-marketing to influence public opinion. Your average Joe is more than happy to watch the same crappy sit-coms and action movies over and over again, so he's quite happily going to plop down the extra cash to play the same crappy games over and over again. Suddenly, the Madden/FIFA gamers are buying things that aren't Madden/FIFA, and everyone wants to be one of those things.

But what I think is slowly starting to dawn on everyone is that COD is a fluke. While it sells incredibly well, it only does so because IT'S COD. It's a brand now. Like Madden/FIFA. Did developers used to shoe-horn sports elements into every game in order to attract the FIFA market? NO. It seems to me that throwing in a COD style MP feature is not attracting the COD crowd. In fact, it attracts nobody. I think developers/publishers are soon going to realise that they will have to depend on the core gamers to stay alive once again, and using the same old bag of tricks doesn't really work with us.

[AllroundGamer]

So basically you wanted to say - people got really dumb over the years :D which is definitely true... humanity reboot is also needed :D Skynet can't come soon enough ;) btw. i worked for about 3 years in the gaming industry in two different companies (started as beta tester, continued as game designer), it was my dream job, but sadly it's always about the people, and the top managers who are deciding are mostly non gamers, who just follow stupid trends, which is why i discontinued to work in the gaming industry. (dream collapsing... :/ )

[-Alpha]

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

What a freaking COD clone of a map

The focus should always be on offering maps that are actually BattleFIELDS. If the other DLC is going to offer "the biggest map in BF history" then I'll hold my breath, considering that's exactly what they said about BF3 before launch.

I dont mind CQC maps, but the one in the video is too small and too focused. Where are maps like in BC2 where Close Quarters was dominant but the maps were more open, such as in jungles, instead of having all these walls and rooms? At least in BC2 you had outdoor maps where classes were still important, this just looks like a twitchy run and gun map.

[Ser]

@LightofDarkness

Fantastic post. +Well said bubbles.

[Wenis]

Battlefield: Close Quarters huh...

RIP Battlefield
1942-2142

[da_2pacalypse]

While I agree with DoomeDx, the problem is that BF3 on consoles is just not battlefield. I feel that the fact that the number of players is so much smaller than the PC versions really makes the game very challenging. I feel that the maps are not correctly scaled for the number of players in the game. For example, Operation Firestorm is just ridiculous on console, that map is way too big for 24 players (even with the fact that they took away two capture points on conquest). I really hope the next battlefield can be a little more closer to the battlefield Bad company series in the sense that the maps are better scaled to the number of players in the console versions.

Therefore close quarter maps are the way to go for console gamers, because the bigger maps are just too big (since they're developed for the PC versions first). I personally like all the maps that they've made, unfortunately the larger maps are just way too quiet and players tend to leave those games, which makes the game even less fun since there ends up being less than 16 people on the server.

[LUCKYXS7LEVEN]

i'll be happy if the bring back HIGHWAY from BF2 MC

[BeardedPriest]

BRIDGE TOO FAR

which was on also the title of a movie

[Wenis]

Unfortunately I dont think we'll ever see the awesome maps from BF2MC.. mainly because they were made by DICE Canada, I doubt most of the developers at the current DICE even knows the game exists.

[LUCKYXS7LEVEN]

Thank you BeardedPriest for correcting me on the title of the level. man i remember back in that map C4's where everywhere and helicopter fights were amazing .

[Hanif-876]

There are different game modes in BF3 to suit everyone. Hence, not all the time i'll feel like to play a small or large map sometimes i just want variations.

[chriski333]

Whatever man im all for new maps guns and vehicles but when r they gonna fix all that needs to be fixed?

[dark-hollow]

Yay more narrow corridors to get raped by the frag USAS-12.

[Swiftcricket]

The frag ammo is going to be fixed before June.

[Drabent]

IMAO...I was gonna make a USAS frag post darnet lol!

[Persistantthug]

:P

[ht2112]

The article said that they were releasing 3 new DLC packs, one is close quarters, the other is Armored Kill, which focuses on vehicle game play and will have even bigger maps than what we've seen on BF3, and I'm assuming the third is unannounced so far. It will still release the huge battlefield maps that make the game what it is.
Can you really blame them for also branching out their market? So what is one of the map packs is close quarters, DICE is complementing that with more vehicles and even bigger maps.
Personally, I wouldn't mind having the option to take a break from big battlefield maps and play more close quarter maps every once in a while.
It'd be a different story if they were only releasing close quarters, but criticizing them for releasing close quarters AND large battlefield maps is kind of unfair.

[HK6]

Can't wait for Armored Kill. Mobile artillery, vehicle combat, and the biggest map ever made for a Battlefield game? Count me in.

[Tonester925]

Well. Since its a bigger map... The max player count should be risen also. Real war!

[Hufandpuf]

The translation is horrible, but the info is nice

[jizzyjones]

June.........come on now, the lack of support for this game is pathetic, 2 major patches on ps3 since release, hurry up now!

[Kingdom Come]

Lack of Support? Support is based upon more than DLC development and release. DICE are one of a select few developers (Others being the likes of Epic Games, Naughty Dog, Bethesda etc) who have been immensely supporting their game through updates, established to assist in balancing of weapons and elimination of bugs and exploits...

[Daver]

it took 4-5 months for them to fix the mic problem and they have yet to release a new DLC. Back to kirkland is BF2 maps with their new engine but that are not new.

[BALLARD32]

Ha you're kidding. They've done a horrible job so far with updates and balance.

[Akiba96]

http://battlelog.battlefiel...

That is the changelog for the new patch coming up... If anyone wants to tell me that that is not damn good support, they can go jump off a cliff.

[PixL]

I love BF but you shouldn't put DICE and ND in the same sentence. BF3's had two patches since release, UC3's had eight. Not quite the same level of support.

[F7U12]

@Akiba96

no that's great developer support.. it's a damn shame it's only 5 months too late. ಠ_ಠ

[scrambles]

4 infantry only maps with 16 players?? BF3 is now dead. Its just CoD now. B2K can only last me so long. It wont last me 4-7 months until armored kill. Enjoy your map pack Metro players. You're now Dice's entire audience.

BF always had massive maps with tons of vehicles.. I guess the new staff at Dice don't really care about BF anymore and its just about money. Since they brought over this huge chunk of new players theres no need for the old ones.

RIP BF

[Pandamobile]

Oh please, what's wrong with a little diversity in the DLC?

Would you rather have map pack 1-4 with generic, samey maps like in COD; or would you rather have 4 distinctly different expansion packs? One redux of classic maps, one infantry focused CQC pack, one set of massive vehicle focused maps, and another TBD.

[Kingdom Come]

Couldn't have put it better myself...

[AusRogo]

There is more to war then just open fields. I dont have a problem with some cqc maps. You dont have to buy it.

[tokugawa]

hold on where did it say 16 players?? i cant seem to find that.

could someone clarify or link me to where that is stated please

[scrambles]

a little ways down the page

http://www.battlefield.com/...

[Soldierone]

Couldn't the same be said about the people whining about Metro players? The point of Battlefield is how diverse it is....Plus they are releasing custom servers soon so you can just stick to your vehicle maps.

All I read in this DLC is that it has no air vehicles, which is awesome. I find people sitting in jets and heli's the entire map just as big of noobs as Metro only players....You get into a map with no air vehicles and they either get dominated or quit. Honestly takes no skill to take a few hits then go fly behind a mountain, fix it, and do it again and when anyone says it is I do it the next round and they get mad.

[eak3]

want some tissues?? Why dont you put BF3 up on the shelf next to all the other games I'm sure you've taken the time to incessantly cry about. Players like you should just give up on gaming entirely since nothing obviously pleases you.

[Tonester925]

Haha don't buy it then. And I guess you didn't read about the second DLC. Complainers man. Probably would be the first one to buy the DLC Map Pack haha

[tokugawa]

listen i am a battlefield fanboy, but this whole close quarters 16 player stuff stinks. i play battlefield instead of cod for obvious reasons. but i think it is fair to say that bf3 is by far the worst of the franchise.

without doubt the worst maps so far, terrible balancing, an eternity to fix it and now this.

i am whining, because it hurts to see a great franchise fall. the bad companys slaughter this. rip battlefield.

looks like i will be playing halo even more now. it gets boring raping people with famas or shotgun frags, and that is now what this game has become on the 360. every map is full of people using these two weapons.

[beastlysensation]

lol i just laughed at the new patch notes for the upcoming massive patch. It completely changes the game.

[Tonester925]

This is what happens when people cry over a game. Be careful what you wish for. *General Statement*

[pandehz]

Im excited with the variety on offer.

I love all kinds of maps.

UT 2004 had all kinds and Im glad BF3 is gonna do the same

[weazle]

Almost 5 months and the original game still isn't fixed yet! Now you are telling us that it will be 3 months (likely longer if history keeps repeating) just to get COD maps! WTF!

[blink3020]

Stfu. Quit your whining.

[R1CAN617]

Cant wait for these expansion's to drop, its great to have diversity & option's not only in game types but map too so far BF3 seem's like one of the best purchases ive made this year.

[ginsunuva]

JUNE!!???
It's coming out 6 months after B2K?

We can expect the last expansion June 2013, then.

[MizTv]

sounds good to me this is my go to mp game right now and has been for awile so im pumped for some new maps but they need to fix those frag rounds

[Majin-vegeta]

Yes now i can practice my flying without causing my team tickets>_<.

But first they need to release the patch!

Edit:Found some game play.It starts around the 40 sec mark.
http://youtu.be/Neq7LFDJxNg

Wait so we have to pay for custom servers or how does it work??

[scrambles]

Knew it. straight cut CoD maps such a shame. If Armored kill doesnt pull through BF is lost. Dice messed up big time. Some of the worst BF maps of all time.

Theyre meant to take place in cities not in hotel rooms. You can have massive differentiation between maps its not just CQC or far away stuff. Old BFs had massive tanking maps, island assaults, wars of bridges, sprawling landscapes, air superiority maps. There was a massive variety without the need to go down to CoD level. BF as we knew it may be lost forever.

[ZILLA]

i could care less if we NEVER get another DLC!the game is soooo awsome as is,all i need is canals and operation firestorm for the life of the game.B F 3...FTW!!

[MizTv]

and i also hope they put all the maps in rush because thats all i play. i remember when kz3 came out and all i liked to play was warzone and i never got to play all the maps and same thing with the dlc i hate that crap

[KontryBoy706]

well since we have to wait until June, maybe they will concentrate on PATCHING the game. That long list of fixes they showed us needs to go ahead and be released pronto

[Plagasx]

Great, more cluster fuck maps like OP Metro on the way folks!

Sighs..

[cyclindk]

Can't they throw a mech in somewhere... just one? For fun?

Metal Gear Rex or Ray anyone? Anyone?

[Drabent]

LoL your kool dude^^

[ThichQuangDuck]

I realize Opertation Metro is the most played maps according to stats, but I would have even preferred if they were unsure of what to do for DLC do a vote of some sort. I kind of wanted to see something different entirely like the great work they did on Battlefield bad company 2 vietnam pack, that felt fully worth it and entirely new. I am interested in the big map pack,but waiting til next fall which there will be many other games out, I am in no rush to get it. Hoping end game is something intresting

[Mythicninja]

Why not give us some god damn mod tools dice? These DLC ideas are late to the game and lukewarm at best. Skyrim did this and replayability as well as value went through the roof. I don't want call of duty style gameplay, but maybe some people do.....let them mod it. I want to ride in a jeep and shoot Trex and some randy savage zombies....let me mod it. Nobody else has to play it that way if they don't want to.....this is why mods are great

[christheredhead]

Not to excited or interested in the BF3 DLC. Truthfully, the game is boring and the idea of the DLC doesn't help. I don't mean that in a harsh way, but BF3 lacks the battlefield mentality. Maps with no destruction. Maps with no vehicles. Maps with 1 hallway to fight in. Not really my idea of a fun Battlefield game. BC2 and even BF2 are far more diverse, engaging and plain fun.

I want enjoyable maps that are actual battlefields, not straight lined endless CQC hallways.

[Drabent]

We didn't need the CQC maps><....but atleast they adding more I guess.

[spektical]

June is far away. Where's the "huge" patch DICE keeps talking on and on about

[FlashXIII]

Private server rentals for consoles? Someone has probably already done this that I'm not aware of but if not.. then W-O-W that is HUGE step in the evolution of online console gaming.

[artdafoo]

I dont give an eff if they're planning a Unicorn filled expansion pack, Fix the the GD input lag and BS weapons/MAVs first. Dopes.

[suc915]

am i the only one who could care less about dlc? i just want the patch and news about when i can expect to play a non broken game without all the cheating goin on!!! dont get me wrong we were promised a lot of dlc and im excited, but thats not wuts important at the moment!!!

[Optical_Matrix]

People need to stop crying. One, just one, of the 3 map packs is close quarters. If you don't like it, don't buy it. You'll save yourself some money and get to enjoy the game without CQ maps. I don't see the problem.

Sure it might seem like a sell out, but to me, it's branching off to reel in a different market, without having to take away from the vanilla game. I'm sure it'd be much worse of Battlefield 3 vanilla was purely CQC maps right? Well it's not. People just love to bitch and whine.

I'll probably avoid these maps unless they get rid of frag ammo on the USAS-12. Most broken shit I've seen in a game in years. And I don't get why it's taking so long to fix, like everything else, DICE has really slowed down and become scatty when it comes to fixing things. It's not as if they're working on the new Medal of Honor this time around.

[Fadetoblack69]

It's all about the DLC push now....